Spanish bishops reject discrimination in schools over use of Islamic veil

Madrid, Spain, Dec 5, 2007 / 12:10 pm (CNA).- The president of the Spanish Bishops’ Committee on Migration, Bishop Jose Sanchez, spoke out against discrimination in schools against students who wear the Islamic veil, and he called for respect and friendship in schools to be fostered.

Speaking to reporters in Burgos, Bishop Sanchez of Siguenza-Guadalajara said, “What is normal on the street should be normal in schools,” and he said the use of the veil for cultural reasons should be differentiated from its use for ideological reasons or to impose a religion.

The bishop made his comments during speech on immigration in Spain at the School of Theology in Burgos, during which he pointed out that this global phenomenon is widespread and diverse and is due to necessity.